Alumni Newsletter - April 2014
In This Issue
Goodsearch for Student Emergency Fund
NASP Scholarships Awarded
Chef Authors Cooking Column
NR Retirements
Alum Excels In Hospitality
Sale at Bookstore
Froberg Scholarships Awarded
ESL Class Project
Grad Nominated as Hero
Culinary Students Take Gold
Students Complete Disc Golf Course
Villavicencio Featured in Blog
Students Work Hands-On with ODNR
Help Plan Homecoming
In Memorial
All-Ohio Team
Alum Overcomes PTSD
Adjunct Faculty Featured
Senior Art Exhibition
Therapeutic Riding Program
Faculty Participate in LBJ Anniversary
Global Dialogues Features Students
Farm-to-School Initiative Launched
Petrovay Represents HC
Student Earns Top Award
Class Notes
Coffee and Conversation
Support Hocking College Foundation
Do We know YOU?
 
Alumni Spotlight 
   

Hocking Grads Open Automotive Business

   

 

Jeremy Hurlburt and Nick Moore prove that hard work pays off after opening and running their own business this past year. Hurlburt and Moore, both recent Hocking graduates, followed their dreams and opened Hocking Valley Mechanics in October 2013 in Logan, Ohio.


Hurlburt and Moore attended the Logan campus of Hocking College where they studied and graduated from the Automotive Hybrids program this past year. Hurlburt also spent time studying in the Advanced Energy program and graduated with a double major.

Although the two only knew each other for about a year before starting the business, they shared a long history and strong passion for the automotive industry and worked together to create a successful business. Located off Freeman Road in Logan, Hocking Valley Mechanics offers just about anything and everything to automobile owners in need.

Hulbert encourages fellow Hocking students and alumni by saying, "It's not easy, but don't give up." Hurlburt and Moore say they hope to expand and attract more business in the future. They also have plans to offer U-Haul services. 
 

 

 
Goodsearch to Raise Money for Student Emergency Fund

Goodsearch donates money to your favorite cause when you search the internet, shop online or dine out at local restaurants. Goodsearch.com donates a penny per search to your cause.


The website is very easy to use; it's free and turns simple everyday actions into a way to make the world a better place. Please sign up today to help support Hocking College students.

 

Visit www.goodsearch.com to get started, and select "Hocking College Foundation" as your charity of choice. 

 

Hocking Awards NASP Tournament Scholarships

 

Hocking College was honored to award scholarships to the top individual high school finishers of the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) Ohio State Tournament held at Franklin County Veterans Memorial recently. 


Coordinated by the ODNR Division of Wildlife, the tournament engaged 680 schools, consisting of a total of 1,606 archers from 83 teams across Ohio. Teams and individuals were separated into elementary, middle school and high school divisions. The top five teams and individuals were recognized from each division, with the overall top competitors receiving a package from Cabelas, as well as a Morrell arrow target. 

Hocking College offered scholarships to the first, second and third place individual high school finishers resulting in six winners from four high schools. The first place winners include Amelia Bartenschlag of Philo High School, and Dominic Pletcher of Maysville High School. The second place spot went to Paige Phillips and Bobby Rice of Meigs High School with third place being awarded to April Bartenschlag of Philo High School, and Jason Trickett of Tri-Valley High School.  
For additional information, visit the 
website with the complete award listing.

 

Chef Alfonso Authors Cooking Column for Perry County Tribune

Kudos to our own Chef Alfonso Contrisciani who is now writing a regular column for the Perry County Tribune.


In addition to everything he does for Hocking College, Contrisciani is also the president of the Perry County Farmers Market Co-operative.

The first column is about ramps (also known as wild leeks), one of the first edible greens to appear in the spring.

Read more about ramps, including two recipes, in the 
Perry County Tribune. 

 

NR Retirements Celebrated
 
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Two long-time members of the School of Natural Resources will be retiring at the end of this semester. Norm Fox and Bob Sabo have both announced their retirements and a celebration was recently held in their honor. 

 

Alumni Spotlight 
 
Hocking Alumnus Excels in Hospitality Industry

 

David Taylor, Hocking College hospitality alumnus, has recently been appointed to Director of Sales and Marketing of The Charles Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts.


Taylor got his start in the hospitality industry at Hocking College, studying Hotel Management. He continued his education with a Business Administration degree from Ohio University. Taylor also received special training from individuals of Boston University and Cornell University.
 
Taylor is a long-time veteran of the hotel industry after more than 20 years of experience from five well-known hotel companies. He began as Director of Sales and Marketing of the Fairmont Copley Plaza in 1986, where he gained knowledge and experience for six years. From 1992 to 2013, Taylor assumed the role of marketing director for six different hotels including the St. Regis Hotel and The Ritz-Carlton in Central Park. 

His current position at The Charles Hotel in Harvard Square requires him to oversee and coordinate all of the hotel's sales and marketing plans, analyze the competition and develop successful marketing and sales campaigns.
 

 

 

Huge Sale at the Bookstore

 

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An Inventory Reduction Sale at the Hocking College Bookstore continues through May 9. All clothing is 50 percent off. There are no guarantees on size or style; no additional discounts apply. 


The Bookstore is located on the second floor of Davidson Hall and is open 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Stop by soon for the best selection!
  

  

Students Awarded Froberg Scholarship

 

Autumn Congrove of New Marshfield and Daniel Bender of Logan were awarded the M. Laird and Charisann Froberg Scholarship for the Hocking College School of Engineering Technology 2013-14 academic year.


Congrove's dream is to become an engineer. Her goal is to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering upon graduation from Hocking College.  Congrove would like to use her training in science and technology to encourage young people to consider some of the problems we face and engage them in thinking of ways to improve our outlook for the future.

Bender chose Hocking College because of its Industrial Ceramics Engineering Technology program. He has confidence that this school will help fulfill his goals in his career in the same way it has helped many others in the past. Bender is an intern at Superior Fibers. He was also awarded the J.R. Hooper Academic Scholarship.

The M. Laird and Charisann Froberg Scholarship was established to help with educational expenses for students studying Industrial Ceramics at Hocking College. The Frobergs were long-time supporters of the Hocking College Industrial Ceramics program, and Laird held 23 patents in the glass fiber and glass furnace area.

Recipients are chosen based on academic performance, potential contribution to the local economy and financial need.

 

ESL Class Completes Service Learning Project

 

 

Kudos to Jennifer Creque-Blackburn's English as a Second Language students on their recent service learning project.

 

On April 8th, some of the ESL students helped clean, till and plant flowers in a newly designed Victims Garden in front of the Athens County Courthouse. The garden was made to honor children and adults who have been victims of crimes committed in Athens County.

Some of the students also attended the official unveiling ceremony for the garden on April 9th.

Great job, students! We appreciate your support of the community.
  

 

Alumni Spotlight 
 
Hocking Grad Nominated as Hero

 

Shawn Wilkin '04 has been recognized for his strong commitment to community service throughout his time as a masonry instructor at the Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development Center.


Over the past 16 years, Wilkin and his students have done dozens of projects to improve their communities. The Clinton and Highland County Office of the American Red Cross has nominated Wilkin as a Hero for his support of non-profit and community organizations across the region.
 
Wilkin first gained experience in masonry about 40 years ago at the Laurel Oaks campus of Great Oaks, where he became part of the first graduating class in 1973. After graduating, he chose to pursue a career in masonry and worked in the field for more than 20 years. He was encouraged to further his education after being offered the opportunity to return to Laurel Oaks as a teacher. He earned his teaching certificate at Wright State University and received an Associate of Individualized Study from Hocking College. He spent a majority of his time at Hocking taking classes in the Construction Management Program focusing on carpentry.
 
Projects completed by Wilkin and his students include a veterans memorial, a foundation for Habitat for Humanity, and dugouts for community and high school baseball fields. He continues to lead and inspire his students to embrace their passion for the field and utilize their skills to help and evolve the area.

Read more about Wilkin's honor 
here. 

 

Culinary Arst Students Take Gold at ACF Knowledge Bowl

 

 

Hocking College recently sent a team of five Culinary Arts students to compete in the American Culinary Federation's (ACF) Knowledge Bowl, where they battled with other culinary scholars and scored a gold metal rating of over 500 points taking second place. 


The Knowledge Bowl took place at the ACF Northeastern Conference at The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick, Rhode Island. During the competition, participants were quizzed on culinary terms, history, classical methods of cooking, science of ingredients and ingredient identification.

Team coach Chef Katie McGushin and assistant coach Chef Anthony Adami led the team to place second out of eight teams in the regional finals. This is the second year in a row that the Hocking College team has received second place and is the only school representing the state of Ohio. Team captain Abigail Cole and team members Whitney Lumley, Brandon Schilling, Eric Allchin and Courtney Kaleal worked hard to prepare for the event and were honored to be rewarded the second place gold prize. 

  

Construction Management - Carpentry Students Complete Disc Golf Project at Logan Campus

 

 

Students in the concrete class of the Construction Management - Carpentry program completed the installation of concrete tee-pads for a nine-hole disc golf course at Hocking College's Logan campus.  

 

With the help of the Heavy Equipment program students, who excavated each of the nine sites, the carpentry students formed each pad and then poured and finished the concrete as a hands-on lab project. As spring is finally starting to emerge, come to the Logan campus and check out their hard work as you enjoy a round of disc golf! 

  

Villavicencio Featured in Restauranteur's Blog

 

 

Libby Villavicencio, Hocking College Foundation Executive Director, was recently featured in the blog of Elizabeth Lessner, a Columbus restauranteur.


Lessner owns seven highly regarded eateries in Columbus, including Surly Girl Saloon and Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails. 

According to Lessner's blog, she met Libby when Libby approached her about being an advisory board member for our culinary program. Since then, Libby has made quite an impression on Lessner, introducing her not only to Hocking College, but to many people and places in the area.

Kudos to Libby for being such an asset to Hocking College and for the lovely write-up in Lessner's blog. We appreciate everything you do!
  

  

Hocking Fish Management Students Work Hands-On with ODNR

 

 

Hocking College Fish Management and Aquaculture (FMAQ) students are teaming up with Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife professionals this spring to help out on Lake Snowden projects.


The Capstone Fisheries Management class has already started their first project at Lake Snowden. The class is working on a Snowden fishery improvement project requiring bundling and deploying donated Christmas trees to improve the lake's habitat. Later this spring, the students will assist ODNR staffers on a largemouth bass population study calling for their skills in electrofishing, processing and marking and recapture of the bass in order to obtain data for ongoing lake management. 

Mike Miltner, Hocking College Natural Resources instructor and FMAQ Program Coordinator, is pleased with the opportunity for cooperation with ODNR District 4 staff and the hands-on learning experience that will be offered to second year FMAQ students.
 

  

REMINDER: Help Plan Homecoming
 
 
We still need help planning this year's homecoming.  Several alums who responded to our Homecoming survey in February expressed an interest in joining a planning committee. The committee will meet soon to discuss ideas.  

If you would like to be a part of this committee, email Jessie McDonald or call 740-753-7010.

 

In Memorial 
We honor and remember these members of our Hocking family:

Betty Cunningham '74 - Practical Nursing
 
Lawrence Gallagher '77 - Computer Electronics
 
Kenneth Stortz '80 - Forest Management

Thomas Blower '83 - Business Management
 
Ralph Moorehead '84 - Financial Services
 
Daniel Dodd '85 - Human Services and Corrections
 
Charles Summers '90 - Industrial Ceramics
 
Brenda Filkins '98 - Nursing
 
Mike McGuffey '00 - Wildlife Management
 
Sherman Perkins '06 - Associate of Individualized Study
 

 
3301 Hocking Parkway
Nelsonville, Ohio 45764
740.753.7010
  
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Commencement Invitation

      

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The Board of Trustees, Faculty, Staff and Students of Hocking College invite you to the forty-fifth Annual Commencement Ceremonies on Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10, 2014 at the Hocking College Student Center.

 

7:00 p.m. Ceremony, Friday, May 9, 2014

  • School of Allied Health
  • School of Nursing

10:30 a.m. Ceremony, Saturday, May 10, 2014

  • School of Natural Resources
  • School of Public Safety Services

2:30 p.m. Ceremony, Saturday, May 10, 2014

  • McClenaghan Center for Hospitality Training
  • School of Arts, Business and Information Technology
  • School of Engineering Technology
Evening EMT Advanced Certification Class Offered

      

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Hocking College School of Public Safety Services will offer an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Advanced Certification class beginning May 19, from 6 to 10 p.m., on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings during summer semester.

Current students waiting to begin paramedic training and professionals already in the field that desire to upgrade their certification level are encouraged to enroll. Ohio Basic EMT certification is a prerequisite for the Advanced Certification class.  This class is designed to provide instruction in the Department of Transportation (DOT) National Standards Curriculum for Paramedics.

Hocking College also offers different levels of fire training at a certificate level, as well as a degree program. In the future, the college plans to offer various types of Emergency Medical Services and Fire classes in the evening in order to meet the needs of non-traditional students.

Curtis Martin, Hocking College EMS Coordinator, stresses the benefits and importance of this program stating, "The Advanced EMT course gives the EMT student or practicing professional the opportunity to enhance their skills and better serve their patient and community. The course offers advanced skills in IVs, medication administration, and increased knowledge in all aspects of EMS. It is the goal of the EMS staff at Hocking College to make the student successful in class, be able to successfully pass the National registry Exam, and become a confident and integral part of the health care system."

Contact Curtis Martin at 740.753.6473 or 
[email protected] for more information about the EMT Advanced class or the Hocking College Fire and Emergency Services Program.

 

Students Named to All-Ohio Team

      

Four Hocking College students, two from Logan Campus, one from Perry Campus and one from main campus, were named to the All-Ohio Academic Team for the 2013-2014 academic year by the Phi Theta Kappa national honor society.

Autumn Congrove of New Marshfield was one of only ten students named to the All-Ohio Academic First Team. Congrove is in the Advanced Energy program and hopes to transfer on to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering. Her goal is to encourage young people to consider solutions to problems we face through science and technology in hopes to improve our outlook on the future. 

The remaining three Hocking students were named to the All-Ohio Third Academic team, including Kiara Ivory, Daniel Parker, and Steve Shatz.  

 

Kiara Ivory, of Cleveland, is in the Early Childhood Education Program planning to be an elementary math teacher. She maintains a 3.86 GPA while being involved in many campus organizations including Student Government, Hocking Proud, Diversity Club and Hip-Hop Dance Club.

Daniel Parker of New Lexington has obtained a 3.98 GPA as an Accounting major at the Perry Campus. His career goal is to become a CPA, but for now he remains an active member of Phi Theta Kappa while working with admissions and fundraising at Hocking.  

 

Steve Shatz of Logan has achieved a 4.0 GPA while studying Industrial Ceramics Engineering Technology at the Logan Campus of Hocking College. He is currently involved in Phi Theta Kappa, Fairfield County 211 and recruitment events at Hocking. Shatz plans to eventually be an engineer in the ceramics field.

The students will be recognized at the 2014 All-Ohio Academic Team Luncheon at the Ohio Statehouse Atrium. The All-Ohio Academic Team program provides statewide recognition and cash scholarships to outstanding two-year college students.  Winners are selected based on academic performance, demonstration of leadership and community service involvement.   

 

Hocking Alumnus Overcomes PTSD

      

In the midwestern United States, Hocking College alumnus Brian Caskey grew up in a troubled household.

 
"I felt and was told many times that things wrong with our family or items broken around the house was my fault. Being a sensitive soul, this influenced my self-worth. At the age of about 12, I started using drugs and alcohol."
 
Brian used some substance or activity for the next 30 years so that he would not have to live life on life's terms.
 
He was successful by most peoples' standards. He earned an Associate of Applied Science at Hocking College, a Bachelor of Science at Arkansas Tech University and a Master of Science at Jackson State University, usually on the honor roll. After college, his substance usage grew and pain medicine was introduced for shoulder pain. From the outside, Brian looked as if his life was near perfection. Inside, Brian was struggling with his childhood traumas.
 
Around August 2011, Brian became monotone. He could not feel emotions and was suicidal.
 
"That is when a power greater than I kicked in and took control and guided me back to my true path."
 
He found the courage to ask about counseling and was directed to the Sierra Tucson Wellness Center. There, he found himself.
 
He realized it is normal to have post-traumatic stress disorder after living in a stressful environment growing up, and over time spent at the Wellness Center, came to terms with his past.
 
Currently, he has moved to southern California where he is working on a Ph.D. in Holistic Life Coaching. He has recently formed a support group called Hiking4Wellness.
 
Hiking4Wellness raises money to help children and adults of trauma attend Wellness Centers across the United States. Their goal is to raise awareness of the potential lifelong effects of childhood traumas, which can lead to post traumatic stress disorder and addictions, if left untreated. Their primary fundraiser of 2014 will be a hike of the Appalachian Trail, from Georgia to Maine and then back again. More information can be found at 
www.Hiking4Wellness.com.
 
Congratulations, Brian! Hocking College is happy to see you have found your path to happiness. Brian is a great example of how it is never too late to start over.

 
Hocking Adjunct Professor Featured in Bare Back Publication

      

Scott Urban, Hocking College Adjunct English Professor, has been featured in the recently released collection, Hearing Voices, published by BareBack Press.


Urbans's two new poems titled, "nameless" and "Car: For Sale" will appear in Hearing Voices, alongside other pieces created by writers such as Mike Algera, Alyssa Cooper and Jean Jones. This collection highlights new work by writers who are known for straightforward, sincere and passionate poetry that pushes the boundaries of contemporary literature. Hearing Voices defines itself as a collection that is bold and brave that features talented writers from around the globe. 

Urban's previous collections include, Alight, Skull-Job and Night's Voice. He recently had his collection "God's Will" published by Mad Rush Books in December and is excited to now be part of the new Hearing Voices collection. 

Hearing Voices: The BareBack Anthology is now available on the
BareBack Press website and Amazon.com. 

 

Senior Art Exhibition Open

      

The Hocking College 2014 Senior Art Exhibition in ceramics, glass and photography is now open at the Hocking College Art Gallery on the Public Square.


"We are extremely pleased with the level of work produced by the student artists. They have worked long hours to produce a body of work that showcases their many talents," Brian Alloway, Art, Design and Marketing program instructor at Hocking College, said.     

 

Twelve seniors with various art disciplines will showcase their work through May 25. The exhibit includes the work of Brandon Bowman, Kelsey Carlson, Jesse James Doering, Summer Jordan, Tara Kauffman, Anita King, Chelsea Lantez, Sarah Love, Josh Messmer, Matthew Pritchard, Maryanne Queen and Shaniah Smith.

Students in the Art, Design and Marketing program develop techniques and professional skills, build a professional portfolio of creative work, develop marketing skills related to the business of art and experience the fundamentals of gallery operations through hands-on learning opportunities.  
 

 

Therapeutic Riding Program Participates in Festival

      

The Atco/Hocking College Therapeutic Riding Program recently participated in the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities annual "Disabilities Awareness Festival." 


The festival promotes the capabilities of individuals with disabilities in the community. This is the second year the Atco/Hocking College program participated in the event. 

The Therapeutic Riding Program started in the fall of 2012. Sarah Baker, owner of EMBE Acres donates the use of her facility for one weekend a semester and during this weekend students from Hocking get a chance to work with individuals from Atco. The class is supervised by Heath Harter, Hocking College instructor, and Tami Harter, a certified riding instructor through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International and a workshop specialist at Atco.

The partnership between Hocking College and Atco continues to grow. In 2009, individuals came from Atco once or twice a semester to learn horsemanship skills and decorate the horses. Since then it has grown to four visits a semester plus the weekend program. The visits during the semester helps prepare both the individuals from Atco and Hocking College students for the weekend when the individuals from Atco get to ride the horses.

 

Faculty Participate in LBJ Anniversary

      

In honor of President Lyndon. B. Johnson's War on Poverty Speech given 50 years ago, Ohio University and other local community organizations hosted an open conference to discuss and learn about the impact of the War on Poverty in the region. Linda Deeds, Director of Professional Development, and Joe Wakeman, Associate Provost of Curriculum and Instruction, participated on the panel. 


Four topics were discussed during the conference including Federal Trio Programs and Financial Aid, the Appalachian Community and Technical Colleges, Ohio University's Impact on Appalachian Ohio and Development of Recommendations for the Future. 

Deeds and Wakeman, as well as a faculty member of Washington State Community College, discussed the opportunities community and technical colleges provide in the war on poverty. Developing concurrently with LBJs war on poverty, community and technical colleges have offered low-cost, open door access for Appalachian residents who lacked the opportunity of higher education. Their presentation traced the development of two-year colleges, examined their present impact and looked at their future potential socioeconomic change. 

For more information, visit 

http://lbjsoutheastohio.com/.

 

Global Dialogues Features Hocking Students
Sexual abuse of children:  
"Angel"

      

Global Dialogues, an organization that strives to encourage creative young people to cultivate empathy, compassion and unity through the power of media, has completed a film incorporating ideas from two Hocking College students, Ndeye Penda Leye and Kaylee Dressing.


The organization hosts yearly contests to empower young people across the world to speak out about serious taboo topics such as child abuse and sexuality. The contest gives participants creative freedom to write fiction or non-fiction, create a video, play, poem or short story, but all creations must be related to a given subject.

 

Penda received a cash prize after placing in the top 20 out of more than 12,000 international entries last year for her fictional story, "Tears of an Angel" depicting the horrific mind games played by child abusers. Global Dialogues translated her story's concept and ideas into the film "Angel." Kaylee, although not a winner of a cash prize, was credited in the film for her compelling ideas.

 

This year's competition invites students to create a film on topics relating to HIV/AIDS, sexual violence against women or addiction. The top 20 international winners will receive a cash prize, as well as the top three overall winners.

 

See Penda and Kaylee's inspired film here.   

 

Culinary Program, Rural Action Launch Farm-to-School Initiative

      

Through a new grant, Rural Action will partner with the Hocking College Culinary Arts Program to introduce a new Farm-To-School Initiative and provide Federal Hocking and Athens City School Districts with fresh, local produce.


The Farm-To-School Initiative creates a partnership between Rural Action/Chesterhill Produce Auction, Federal Hocking School District, Athens City School District and the Hocking College Culinary Arts Program. The goal of this initiative is to take advantage of local produce by incorporating it into area school districts.

Produce from the Chesterhill Produce Auction will be purchased by the school districts, then transported by Rural Action to Hocking College. Hocking College students will then be given the responsibility of preparing local produce for commercial use in participating schools. Students will receive hands-on experience in preparing fresh local produce after being introduced to a variety of techniques. The food prepared at Hocking will then be transported and distributed to participating schools by Rural Action.

Chef Alfonso Contrisciani, Dean of Hospitality, explained, "One of our missions at the Hocking College School of Hospitality is to promote sustainability initiatives. The addition of the Farm-To-School program greatly enhances our core beliefs. While supporting the local farming industry of southeast Ohio, we are making a contribution to an eco-friendly agricultural environment resulting in healthy products to feed our children." 

The Central Appalachian Network funded the grant with a goal to provide farm fresh fruit and vegetables to schools at least once a week. The $10,000 grant budget covers transportation of the produce, containers for the food, faculty supervision and Hocking kitchen maintenance.   

 

Petrovay Represents Hocking College on National Task Force

  

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George Petrovay, Director of Campus Judiciaries, will be representing Hocking College on a task force initiative between the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and International Association of Campus Law Enforcement (IACLEA). 


The task force between ASCA and IACLEA will work to improve campus partnerships in areas such as education and prevention, policy and procedures and incident response and management. This task force will take specific aspects into consideration including the diversity of the institution, the campus setting, and the behavioral situations they may face in order to generate the most effective collaboration practices for each institution. 

Petrovay will be serving as an active voice during this collaboration process alongside more than seven other institutions across the nation including The Ohio State University, Drexel University, Virginia Tech and Florida International University. His professional experiences will serve as the basis for identifying the best practices for not only Hocking College, but all participating institutions.
 

 

Hocking Student Earns Top Award at Honors Convention
 

Kiara Ivory, Hocking College Early Childhood Education student, was selected as the Most Distinguished Member of Phi Theta Kappa in Ohio at the Phi Theta Kappa Ohio Region Hallmark Convention in Canton, Ohio recently.


Ivory was initially recognized for leadership excellence as a part of Ohio's Order of the Torch. She was then awarded the title of Most Distinguished Member of Phi Theta Kappa in Ohio. Her Hallmark entry was written by Business Management and Entrepreneurship student Jeff Adams. Together they received a $300 Hallmark Award prize for the chapter to reduce traveling expenses to the International Convention in Orlando, Florida in April.

Accompanying Ivory and Adams at the Hallmark Convention was Sharon Disbennett and Mary Sanders of the Alpha Mu Delta Chapter on main campus and Paul Gurzynski of the Beta Sigma Omega chapter at Logan Campus.

Both Hocking College chapters were recognized for achieving a two-star chapter rating for 2013. The star rating is an improvement for the Alpha Mu Delta chapter and a new chapter record for the Beta Sigma Omega chapter. 

Ivory and Adams will continue to compete internationally within their nominated Hallmark categories at the Phi Theta Kappa International Convention.


For more information about Phi Theta Kappa at Hocking College, contact Julie Cohara at 
[email protected] 

 

Class Notes

 

Bobby Johnson '00

Bobby Johnson was recently honored by Southern Hills Career and Technical Center for his career achievements and was added to the Southern Hills Wall of Fame.

Superintendent Kevin Kratzer presented Johnson with an engraved plaque containing his name, career tech program and year of completion, as well as career accomplishments and reason for receiving the award.  

 

Johnson completed the criminal justice program at Southern Hills in 1989 and started his career at the Brown County Sheriff's office. He earned an associate degree in human services and correction from Hocking College and completed classes in the Wilberforce Climb Program. He has worked in various capacities at the Orient Correctional Institution, the North Central Correctional Institution, the Chillicothe Correctional Institution, the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission and the Ohio Department of Transportation.

 

Bryn Smathers '11

Bryn Smathers, an MRI Technologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, owes much of his success in the medical field to Sinclair's Distance Learning Program that he was able to attend through Hocking College. He states that his journey has been "an adventure, to say the least."

Knowing from a young age that he wanted to pursue a career in the medical field, Smathers jumped into his education at Hocking, not only for its close-to-home location, but for the no-nonsense feel he sensed it possessed. Smathers graduated from Hocking with a degree in Radiologic Technology. He immediately went on to complete his certificate in advanced imaging in MRI at Kettering College of Medical Arts.

Inspired by his brother, who has received annual MRIs of his brain since he was three years old due to a disorder called neurofibromatosis, Smathers has developed a strong passion for his career and hopes to continue to one day help his brother and others like him.

He dedicates much of his success to Hocking, as the skills he learned during his time here have served as the base structure of his career. He expressed his appreciation for the instructors at Hocking by saying, " I felt like they were serving us, not just there to put their time in for the day." Smathers is grateful for the experiences he had at Hocking and is excited to continue his journey.

 

Doug Manfrin '13

Doug was recently named Executive Chef of the nationally recognized Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls in Logan, Ohio.

Doug began his education at Hocking College in 2009 as a student in the Hospitality program. He graduated in 2013 with a degree in Culinary Arts and Baking. Before his education at Hocking, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps and worked as Executive Chef for the Sandstone Restaurant. His culinary skills were also utilized as sous chef at Spagio in Columbus and The Greenbrier in West Virginia. Before receiving his most recent title as executive chef at The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls, Doug served as executive chef for the award winning Sushi Rock Restaurant in Columbus.

As executive chef of The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls, Doug is responsible for overseeing all food operations, as well as developing menus and recipes utilizing local farms, forests and suppliers.

  

Carri Woodgerd '13

Kudos to Hocking College alumni Carri Woodgerd, who proved the barbells aren't just for the boys after placing eighth at the international Arnold Classic bodybuilding competition.

Woodgerd graduated from the Physical Therapist Assistant program. With encouragement from friends, Woodgerd pursued her life-long passion for fitness and entered the world of bodybuilding, placing third in the Novice and Open division of a state competition. Embracing her determination, she stayed motivated and continued on to win first in the same competition a year later. She later qualified for the Arnold Classic where she
placed eighth in the Bodybuilding, Fitness and Bikini Championship after facing professional bodybuilders from around the world.

Woodgerd urges others to stay motivated and disciplined when trying to reach their goals, especially when things get difficult. Despite the intense training and strict dieting, Woodgerd feels honored and proud to be a part of the bodybuilding community. 
 

 

Coffee and Conversation with Hocking

      

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Do you work in an office with other Hocking College grads? If so, we want to come visit your office with some free coffee and muffins! We call it Coffee and Conversation with Hocking. We head out regularly to an office near Nelsonville (within a 50 mile radius) and visit our alumni while they're working. If you'd like us to pay your office a visit just complete the form to be entered into our drawing for Coffee and Conversation with Hocking.

 

Support the Hocking College Foundation

 

The Hocking College Foundation exists to advance the mission of Hocking College, by providing resources for key programs and initiatives tied to college strategies.

 

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We are running low on alumni updates and Class Notes.  We want to know your story.  If you're interested in being a featured alumni, contact us today!